Everton's youth system

[Modo]

Well Rodwell's not currently playing in the Premiership is he? He sits on the bench every week.

And then there's Rooney, who's an aberration.

There are probably youngsters on our books who'd be in the Everton side. Kelly, Wisdom, etc. They'd be getting more gametime for them than us.

Granted Rodwell isn't getting any game time but he would definitely be getting it in another prem team.
You've got a point about Wisdom and Kelly but don't forget Barkley who looks like the next prem star.

I have neglected to mention the likes of Suso (Almeria), San José (Bilbao), Barragan (Valencia), Paletta (Parma), Insua (A.Madrid), Kacaniklic (Fulham) but it's because we bought them. Tbf we bought Wisdom as well.
So sure we've got some success stories, but my main gripe with the our academy is that the local talent seems to pick Everton, so in that department I believe Everton are better.

 

[Modo]

The group of players we have now are the best I've seen since I started following the reserves in 2004 so I think it'll change in a few years.

 

[Ryan]

Well Rodwell wouldn't get a game for us, and Barkley wouldn't be getting in the side ahead of Gerrard/Suarez/Coutinho, so really it's Rooney and that's it.

 

[Modo]

Well Rodwell wouldn't get a game for us, and Barkley wouldn't be getting in the side ahead of Gerrard/Suarez/Coutinho, so really it's Rooney and that's it.

That's true.

 

[gkmacca]

What I want to know is why are they getting all the local talent?
Everyone I mentioned in the previous post were either born or grew up in Liverpool.

None of our most promising u21's are from Liverpool, bar Rossiter and maybe Robinson (not sure he's that promising any more).
McLaughlin, Suso, Ibe, Sterling...

Well as has been said, a major reason has been the gradual loss of trust with parents and kids alike. During the Houllier era the stories got worse and worse about the academy being ignored by the manager, and the early part of Rafa's time only exacerbated that. So kids went to Everton, Manchester, anywhere but LFC. Obviously that started to change after the revamp, but there was still a perception local kids would be swamped by masses of Spanish or other foreign talent. Then there's the more recent saga of disruption and internal fighting. So that's a lousy advert for parents.

 

[Modo]

Well as has been said, a major reason has been the gradual loss of trust with parents and kids alike. During the Houllier era the stories got worse and worse about the academy being ignored by the manager, and the early part of Rafa's time only exacerbated that. So kids went to Everton, Manchester, anywhere but LFC. Obviously that started to change after the revamp, but there was still a perception local kids would be swamped by masses of Spanish or other foreign talent. Then there's the more recent saga of disruption and internal fighting. So that's a lousy advert for parents.

That sounds logical, we pretty much gave them the Merseyside area. Seems like we also fucked up by letting Baines, Barton and Nolan go. Would have been useful.

 

[Hansern]

Barton?

The last big thing that was supposed to come out of the Everton youth ranks is playing at Oldham now.

I dont think they're any better than us but we need to get the trust back of the local talent and their parents.

 

[Modo]

Barton?

The last big thing that was supposed to come out of the Everton youth ranks is playing at Oldham now.

I dont think they're any better than us but we need to get the trust back of the local talent and their parents.

I thought Barkley was the last big thing?

Anyway Barton would have been useful as a squad option. Maybe he wouldn't have gone all apeshit.
Like Fletcher, Brown, Oshea etc for Man U.

 

[Hansern]

Soz, I ment before Barkley.

Jose Baxter was supposed to be the shit but now plays for Sheff Utd, not Oldham as I previously said.

 

[gkmacca]

They don't look like their sports science/nutrition aspect is that developed. Rooney emerged looking like something out of Marvel Comics, and Barkley, for all his talent, looks like he's grown up eating nothing but steak. I wonder if they keep them all in cages.

 

[Modo]

They don't look like their sports science/nutrition aspect is that developed. Rooney emerged looking like something out of Marvel Comics, and Barkley, for all his talent, looks like he's grown up eating nothing but steak. I wonder if they keep them all in cages.

One thing we need to give Everton credit for except for feeding these kids steaks, is that they actually developed them.
They didn't arrive there at 9 years old looking like world beaters. They put money and effort in to develop these kids and succeeded in many cases. Sure they got the cream of the crop from the local youths but we can't disregard the time they put in.

 

[gkmacca]

Well it's hard to judge what the time, money and coaching actually was. What about the many who failed? Was that down to poor coaching? They've had plenty of next best things that have need up has-beens. Here or there, it's hard to tell what really got any player through, except for natural talent and determination.

 

[Jack D Rips]

The U18 derby is on today.

Was Barkley all that good on Saturday? He's been getting rave reviews for his performance but to be honest I didn't actually notice.

 

[Fabio]

The U18 derby is on today.

Was Barkley all that good on Saturday? He's been getting rave reviews for his performance but to be honest I didn't actually notice.

Neither did I tbh

 

[doctor_mac]

I thought Barkely was excellent. Creative and demanding the ball at all times. Yeah, he made a few errors, but he looked a very talented lad.

 

[FoxForceFive]

I thought Barkely was excellent. Creative and demanding the ball at all times. Yeah, he made a few errors, but he looked a very talented lad.

We're gonna fuck hate him in a couple of years when he's the centre of the Utd midfield, he's gonna be a fucking star.

 

[Leo]

He could be quite precocious though I think.
He doesn't seem raw or rash in the slightest and very level headed.
At the moment he looks like he has the world at his feet but the normal improvement might not arrive.
I'd hold judgement on him for a couple more seasons to see how or if he develops.

 

[SummerOnions]

I think one of the issues in our setup is that we keep letting average players block the way for good up and coming youngsters. We need to sell a lot of those kinda players with buy back clauses earlier on or get better at loaning them out to suitable clubs

 

[gkmacca]

There are rumours about his 'refuelling' habits, but I guess there will be with any young player who causes a stir. He scares the shite out of me already. A precocious talent.